Photosynthetic Products (AQA A Level Biology)

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Photosynthetic Products

  • The process of photosynthesis transfers light energy to chemical energy in biological molecules
  • In ecosystems where sunlight and water is available, the process of photosynthesis enables plants to synthesise organic compounds (glucose and other sugars) from carbon dioxide
  • Most of these sugars synthesised by plants are used by the plant as respiratory substrates
    • A respiratory substrate is a molecule (such as glucose) that can be used in respiration, to release energy for growth

  • The remaining sugars (not used in respiration) are used to make other groups of biological molecules, such as:
    • Starch - a complex carbohydrate molecule (formed from many glucose molecules) that acts as a short-term energy storage molecule
    • Cellulose - another complex carbohydrate molecule (also formed from many glucose molecules) that acts as a structural component of plant cell walls
    • Lipids - plant cells can convert the sugars produced during photosynthesis into lipids, which act as another type of (longer-term) energy storage molecule
    • Proteins - plant cells can also combine the sugars produced during photosynthesis with nitrates to make amino acids, which can then be used to produce proteins

  • These different groups of biological molecules (all formed from the sugars synthesised by plants during photosynthesis) make up the biomass of the plants
    • The biomass is the mass of living material
    • The biomass can also be thought of as the chemical energy that is stored within the plant

Photosynthetic product uses (1), downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notesPhotosynthetic product uses (2), downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notesPhotosynthetic product uses (3), downloadable AS & A Level Biology revision notes

The sugars synthesised during photosynthesis can be used in respiration or the creation of other biological molecules needed by plants

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Lára

Author: Lára

Expertise: Biology Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.